davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

snake, because he devours scorpions and
lizards, but of what use, pray tell me,
are the scorpions and lizards?"
They eat innumerable insects" the
minister triumphantly replied.
All right; but of what use are the
insects!'
The insectsY' Why er-they serve as
food for the lizards"
Yes; but of what use are the
lizards?'
Why, you must be blind not to zee
that they serve as food for the snakes
"Of course ! see that, but that only
brings up the question of what use are
the snakes
ITO eat the lizards, tell you. Nv
dear sir, the minister added, il is not
strange that philosophy advances 80
slowly, when we think of mans narrow
ness of understanding. "-ArA"nsop Tras-
eiT.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

The new censuses Of France and Ger
many show "a marked falling off in the
rate of increase In the case of France
the rate of increase was low enough be
fore; now it threatens to stop altogether,
and in many departments there has been
a considerable decrease. The addition 10
the population in five years has only been
1885 bringing the total up TO 81, $50,
9Oj. This is equal to the annual rate of
only per cent. per annum. Germany is
not quite so bad, but the rate of increase
between 1870 and 1880 was abnormally
high. The population by lib" latest re-
turns is 1854, 926, a. compared with
1924 ,O61 five years before, giving an
annual rate of increase of IL per cent.
per annum in 1SS0-s5 ~ compared with
LA per cent. per annum in the previous
five wears
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14
residents

Vivisection is not an issue in this coun-
try as in England. Our people take 1t
for granted that scientific men would not
torture an animal unnecessarily and I'M
iustifably. But in England there is
society composed of influential persons
chose work is to prevent the torturing of
animals by scientific investigators. Lead
ing journals are antagonizing the estab-
lishment of an addition to the College Of
Surgeons lest it be used for experiments
in yiyisection.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14
An Inquisitivc Child.

While Miss Singleton, maiden
was waiting in the parlor for lille
Mamie's mother little Mamie asked:
why haven't you got husband like
ma has,
Miss Singleton replied, good -humOr-
edly, that she couldn't find a man to
marry her.
Good gracious. Have you really
asked all of themG" exclaimed Mamie, in
open-eyed wondor-S!rtings.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14
ing animals

Now and then is published story of a
mouse, dog, horse, Or some other ami
NAL with "a remarkable ear for music. ="
The latest comes from Yreka, Cal. \
young man riding IA gentle, though
spirited horse, becoming musically in
clined, tied the reins around his wrist
and began playing on mouth organ. 1t
is not stated how well or how i'll was the
playing, or what was the tune. Anyhow,
the horse had an ear for music. He be-
came excited, began to dance and to
buck" threw the young man to the
ground and dragged him to death. This
may or may not prove a sufficient warn
ing to prevent the reckless playing OF
mouth organs in the presence of horses.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

The head of one of the great New York
dry goods firms was asked the other day
if he could give any idea of the yearly
aggregates Of the bills of his heaviest
customers. Twenty-Five thousand dol
lars, he said, one woman had spent with
him within a twelvemonth, and several
others had grown poorer to the extent OF
$50, 900 or $50 Thirty thousand
dollars is not unheard of as the price Of
the dress and toilet equipments of an ex-
travagant city's extravagant danes.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

well. You'll have to walk home to-
night, remarked man TO another who
lives on the Fort Wayne road.
Why"
There's wash-out on your line"
There is. Where?"
FIN the back yard. "-Pitts5urg Chroni
Gle.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

An authority gives the consumption of
corn as follows: "1SO, 900. 900 bushels
are used for human food. 624, 900, 900 for
working animals, 10000, 900 for seed.
100. 900, 900 for the production Of spirits
and glucose, So, 900, 900 for export, and
900, 900, 900 for the food of meat-produc-
ing animals
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

II is estimated that there are 1000, 900
blind persons living to-day. In Cairo,
Egypt, where the proportion of blind
persons TO the number of inhabitants is
greatest, there is one TO every twenty
residents
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14
BUDGET OF FUN.
HUMOROUS SKETCHES FROM
VARIOUS SOURCES.

4 railroad Accident-An Inquisitivc
Child-Satisficd to Wait-An Ad-
hesive Professionalism Origi-
nal Proposal" Etc. Etc.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-14

The Agricultural Department mas re-
ceived many letters from different parts
of the country with reference to the in
PRODUCTION of Australian rabbits into this
country. Commissioner Coleman has pre-
pared the following in answer thereto:
'For some time past the press of the
country has contained paragraphs relat-
ing to the expected introduction into the
United States of the Australian rabbit"
and the gravcst fears have been expressed
concerning the probable effect of such
importation upon our agricultural indus
tries. Hence few facts concerning this
rabbit may prove of interest. In the first
place it should be stated that in reality
there is no Australian rabbit, no spc-
cies being native TO that country. The
rabbit that has done SO much harm in
Australia and New Zealand is an intro
duced species, namely, the common rab-
bit of Europe Uepus Cuniculus). Not
only did this rabbit become pest to the
gardener and fruit grower, but it soon
multiplied to such an extent as seriously
10 interfere with sheep raising by de-
stroying the pasturage. In New Zealand
the Legislature took the matter in hand
in 1876 and began the enactment of Sc
ries of stringent laws for the suppression
of the rabbit scourge. In 1881 more than
500, 900 acres of sheep runs had been aban-
doncd ON account of the rabbits, and the
loss to the exports of the colony was cal
culatcd to be 81, 800. 600 per annum; and
it was estimated that upwards of $780,
900. 600 of rabbits were killed in New
Zealand in little over three years. In the
United States we certainly have enough
rabbits Of our own, and the injury they
now infict upon our agricultural indus
tries is by no means insignificant, if any
reliance is to be placed upon the com
plants of fruit growers in the Mississippi
valley and in California. As to the pow
or of an officer Of the Government TO pre-
vent the introduction Of this pest in the
United States, know of no law confer
ring any such authority. Congress might
enact a law comforting upon the Commits
sioncr of Agriculture the power to pre-
vent the landing If animal, bird. or other
pest in any por, Of the United States
that, in his opinion, would be injurious
to agriculture, on the same principle that
it prevents the introduction of cattle af-
fected with contagious diseases. Unless
there is premeditatcd importation by
dealers. there would seem TO be no occa-
sion for alarm. as this rabbit has, during
three centuries of communication with
Europe, not been introduced, or at least
has not become established; and there
would seem to be still less danger from
Australia"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
COUNTY CORRESPONDENCE.

MAPLEToN, April 7.
There are only six houses being con-
structed at the present writing. Our
town is moving right along to the front
School opens in fine shape, only the
house is too much crowded for the teach
ers to do their very best work.
A special school meeting is called fOI
Saturday night to vote on proposition
to issue bonds for So, 600 to build school
house.
The tea party given by the Congrega
tional church to its members and mem
bers of its congregation was very pleas
ant affair.
Mrs. Geo. Doty, living north of town
broke her leg last Sunday at Good Thun
der.
Miss Sarah Quinn's house makes ,
fine show.
Miss Lizzie Lewis, teacher i'm the
Pleasant Grove school, Mankato, is visi
ting relatives in this place.
Miss Viva Plymat has gone to Big
Stone county to teach this summer.
Mr.. Wesley Latoureli has been quite
sick for the past two weeks, but is nov
around again.
Mrs. Ed. Runke has son.
Chas Prohl has sold his saloon to som,
Rapidan party and he is now building
| fine residence across from the Baptis
church.
Our new mill makes fine appear
ance, even larger, and gives promise o
being nicer than the old one. ..
The village council has made the fol
lowing appointments: g. T.. Ware, Just
ice; w. n Plymat, village attorney
William Mcqueen, street commissioner
Hugh Quinn, marshal.
Willis Greedy has bought lot on tn
Berry and Plymat addition and intend
building house on it this season.
The Lutherans and Congregationalist
are preparing unusual Easter exercises
| There was quite large class con
tirmed ut the Lutheran church last Sun
day.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
THE CHICAGO ELECTION.

The most gratifying feature of the
elections this week is the result at Chi
cago, where John 4. Roche, the Repub-
lican candidate for Mayor is elected by
majority of nearly 10000. The over
throw of Carter Harrison regime, which
has for number of years disgraced and
degraded the reputation of that city, is
cause for great rejoicing among lovers
of good government, but there is in the
result of Tuesdays battle of ballots an
other and greater source of satisfaction.
1t lies in the defeat of Nelson, the labor
socialistic candidate for Mayor, and it is
not too much To say that the route which
that party's ticket sustained was as good
and important work rs has ever been
done by Chicago voters. 1t is crush
ing rebuke to the lawless leaders who
were attempting 10 foist a class govern
ment upon the city, and will 20 far to-
wards wiping out the breed of anarchists
which seemed to have secured firm
foothold. The result of Tuesday means
the death-knell of the Chicago commune
and no such trucking To the lawless ans
wild-eyed socialists as has characterized
Carter Harrison's administration, vii
be allowed or expected under Mayor
Roche.
Having no ticket of their own in the
field many of the better class of Demo
..r,,S unJnuhfaIly SunnnrtaH Rnphn
and though the anarchists worked with
the energy of hatred and desperation
there is little in the returns that does
not 90 To show that a great majority o
Chicago voters still favor the preserva
ton of law and order.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
A MERITED TESTIMONIAL.

Last Friday evening committee sell
ected for that purpose repaired to the
residence of Col. VIM. Thomas, The
Junior Post Commander of the Dept of
Minnesota, G. A. R., to present to him
the testimonials bestowed by the De-
partment. Among those present were
Judge Severance, w. w. P. Mcconnell,
Col. Mead, Capt. Keysor, Capt, Andrews,
Capt Burgess, Capt. Cannon, Capt.
Washburn and DR.. f. j. Davis.
These gentlemen entered the house
without even the formality of ringing
the bell and took Col. Thomas prisoner
at once. After few minutes pleasantly
spent in conversation the party entered
another room where there was display
ed one of the finest testimonials ever be-
slowed.
An elegant gold headed cane, bearing
the inscription, Presented to VIM.
Thomas, Department Commander, Mn
nesota, G. A. R., 1867, by vote of sixth
Animal Encampment," together with
two splendidly decorated silver tea sets,
and large, heavy silver water pitcher,
the testimonial committee of the De-
partment having tenderly thought of
the Colonel's family, Miss Pierson and
his two daughters. Judge Severance
made the presentation, as he alone can
make it, which was substantially as fol-
lows:
Conrad Thomas I'm some mysterious
way have been deputed to perform q
generous office toward you tonight i'm
behalf of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public of the Department of Minnesota,
and the performance of such q duty
gives me nothing but pleasure. That
pleasure is none the less, because / in
part, speak for others, since after all,
the compliment flows from the genial
warmth of common brotherhood, a
brotherhood which was the immaculate
conception of duty, sent from the lofti-
est realms of patriotism for the salvation
of the Republic.
Then, in the name of the Department
present you this cane and all this
FURNISHED silver.
The tender properties of a fathers
heart arises and tells you what disposition |
to make of most of this. When you re- !
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
APOLOGY QUITE PROPER.

The New York World is the leading,
and certainly as honest and reliable a
Democratic newspaper as there is in the
country. 1t frankly admits that the
principal Democratic war-cry of the last
presidential campaign was without foun-
dation, and in its admission unavoidably
pays high tribute to the Republican
party, TO its administration of the gov
eminent, and TO the character of the Of
ficials whom it had selected. In re-
cent article the World says:
"The Democrats owe an apology to the
Republicans. For a dozen years and
more the Democratic orators and editors
have rung the changes on charges of Re-
publican corruption and rascality.
Turn the rascals out" and "Open the
books" were shibboleths of the canvass.
Some 10000 Republican officials, it is
said, have been turned out or supplanted,
and yet how few of them all have been
accused of rascality. The books have
been opened-not half as thoroughly as
they ought to have been, no doubt
but no falsifcations or other startling
discoveries have been made"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
THE EDITOR.


Who weeps with YOU when YOU are sad I
Who smiles with you when you are glad
Who laughs at you when You are mad
The Editor.
Who owns heart, as we'll as cheek,
Possessed of spirit proud yet meek,
And lives on fifty cents week.
The Editor.
Who is it works to boom the town.
While fossils on his efforts frawn,
Yet for his labors claim the crown?
The Editor.
Who is it must be ever right,
And make his pages ever bright,
And take the thickest of the fight?
The Editor.
Who is 1t wears his summer clothes
When the cold blast of winter blows,
Because he pays the debts he owes?
The Editor.
Who is it gives notice free
To concert, fair, and matinee;
Then pays his way when he goes to see
Or gets the name of great ID. b.?
The Editor.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08

ONE of the dead letter laws passed by
the last Legislature is that offering Il
bounty for the killing of gophers and
blackbirds. Its provisions offer cents
each for pocket gophers and cents for
other varieties, while blackbirds, killed
in April and June are valued at 10 cents
per dozen, though they depreciate later
in the season To D cents per dozen. The
carcaSses must be shown To the board of
town supervisors, who must satisfy
themselves that they were killed within
the territory over which such board has
supervision, and certificate is then is
sued 10 the county auditor. Before,
however, the law becomes operative in
any county, the board of commissioners
must vote to accept its provisions. This
is what will probably deprive the small
boy of his summers occupation as it is
thought doubtful if any county board
will decide 10 accept the law.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
A FARClAL LAW.

The spring elections have been the
first to call attention to the inconsistent
cy, In part, of the election laws passed by
the last session of the legislature. Sec.
20 of the act says that mo spirituous,
malt or Intoxicating liquor shall be given
away, nor shall any store, saloon or bar
room where such liquor is sold or given
away, be open on any general or special
election day from the hour of five O'Clock
i'm the forenoon to the hour of eight
o'clock in the afternoon. Whoever vio-
lates the provisions of this section shall
be fined not less than one hundred dol
lars nor more than three hundred dol.
lars for each offense. 1t shall be the
duty of the mayor, sheriff, constable and
other officers and magistrates to see
that the provisions of this section are
enforced; and it shall be the duty of the
mayor on the day next proceeding any
election to issue proclamation that the
provisions Of this section will be strictly
enforced. In case the mayor fails Ia
perform the duty herein described he
shall be subject to a fine ofOn Thousand
dollars or Imprisonment in the county
Jail for sixty days, or both, in the dis.
cretion of the court.
The inconsistent, as well as inopera.
tive feature of this section, is the fact
that it can be made to apply as well to
drug stores as to saloons. In fact the
literal construction of the provision car
be interpreted in no other way except
that drug stores where liquors are sold
must close their doors between the
hours of O'Clock u. IN. and 8 O'Clock
p. m. And if our law makers will show
us drug store that does not sell liquor
we will show them a hardware store
where nails cannot be found as an item
of stock.
That il was not the intention of the
law to close drug stores Is, of course, true
but the awkward construction of tht
section makes it just as necessary to dC
so as it is to close saloons. Our legisla
tors will have change to modify tn,
measure somewhat at its next session.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08

member your little daughters, and then
look at these sets of silver, you will per-
ceive the fitness of things. and another
way to strengthen the golden chain that
will run through your flesh and blood
from generation to generation.
But this cane cannot be eliminated, it
must be the companion of your life.
When you move il must go with you,
and when you cease to move its duty
will be all performed. Then your chill
dren will place it among the household
gods, and ever treasure it as the only
atonement friendship could make for the
havoc of a battle field.
As you performed your duty towards
your country, so have You performed it
in every relations you have sustained
towards the brotherhood that now rests
on its laurels and teaches patriotism to
the world.
You must be satisfied with the service
| you rendered to your country and with
the sacrifice you laid on its common al
tar-and your comrades are equally
satisfied with the service you have since
| rendered toward them.
Personally, myself and all those who
attend me tonight, wish you every
triumph within the attainment of u
loyal and upright life.
Col. Thomas feelingly replied as fol-
lows:
Comrades:-Whlet thanking you from
my heart, and through you thanking
the Department of Minnesota, Grand
Army of the Republic, for these beauti-
full testimonials, | regret my inability to
express i'm word my feelings. l have
not the ability TO respond, as | wish |
could, to the eloquent and patriotic SEN
timents of comradc Severance. The
testimonials are most beautiful and the
Department has been too generous. l
shall treasure them always and my
daughters will regard them with CRATE
ful pride as mark of the regard of that
grandsst of all existing organizations the
merited it more. 1t has always been
my endeavor to do my duty as u eomrade
In the Il. A. X. lin my service i'm the
war have suffered it was only the share
which the chances of war brought me.
l am glad ] had the opportunity TO share
those trials with comrades SO true and
for cause 30 righteous. | have not q
single regret for what have suffered
and must always suffer. AS we have
stood together in the past, SO may we
always stand firmly, true our country
and true to each other. thank you
again, comrades, both as Representatives
of this department and for Your person
al kindness as friends.
After this, all repaired to the dining
room and partook of a magnificent feast
which had been 80 cladestinely prepar
ed by Miss Person, Mabel and Allie
with little outside assistance, that Col
Thomas knew naught about it, until with
r others he sat down to the table.
), Only failure of capacity prevented
the overloaded table from being cleared
AS usual, Capt. Andrews and Capt. Key
sor were the last to quit. After an hou
pleasantly spent in social converse
Each took aft his several way
Resolved 10 meet some other day"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
APPLICATION FOR SALOON Ii.
CENSE.

All liquor licenses now in force in the
city of Mankato expire on the first OF
May, and as applicants for licenses after
that date will be subject to the provis
ions of the new liquor law, it is import
ant that they should be advised of the re:
quirements of the act. Section twenty
eight reads:
GAN applications for license to sci
Intoxicating liquors, to the county com
missioners of any county or to the au
thorities of any municipal corporation
in this State authorized to grant the
same, shall be in writing; and shall de-
signate the place where such business il
to be carried on; upon receiving any
such application the county auditor, OIL
the clerk of any such municipal corpora
ton, shall cause notice of such appli'
cation containing the name of the APP
plicant, description of the premises az
stated in the application and the time
when the same will be heard, to be pub
lished in the official newspaper of SAID
county or municipal corporation at leas
two weeks Immediately preceding the
time of such hearing; or in case there bt
no such official paper then such notice
shall be published in some newspaper o
general circulation, printed and pub
lished in the county within which sucl
license is granted. Any person may ap
pear at the time stated and object to the
granting of such license, and if it shall
appear to the board or municipal au
thorities empowered TO grant such ii
cense that the applicant has knowingly
violated any of the laws of this State re
gqlating the liquor traffic or of the
municipality where such application j!
made within the year proceeding sucl
application, of any law relating to The
sale of intoxicating liquors to minors
habitual drunkards or intemperatt
drinkers after receiving q notice forbid
ding such sale within five years proceed
ing such application, such board o.
municipal authorities shall refuse t.
grant the licenseN:
The provisions above set forth arr
plain and unmistakable. There is NJ
yerbiage or meaningless phraseology t.
wade through, No language is uset
whereby misconstructiOn can possibly
be placed upon the terms of the law. 1
behooves those now engaged in the sa
loon business and who desire to con
tinue for "a longer period, to carefully
read the law regulating the traffic, for ,
violation of any of its provisions will
prevent them from securing license.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
Abusing The Wrong Man.

81. Paul Dispatch:-The country press
of the state IS doing a great injustice to
an old soldier and most estimable gen.
tleman by the manner i'm which it is
jumping on to" the new assistant adju-
tant general. The fact is that the press
has mixed the Hawleys up. The APP
pointee is not, as the Blue Earth City
Post says, the Hawley who "was adjutant
general for Gov. Hubbard two years, but
the governors stomach wasn't strong
enough 10 endure him another term. The
new A. A. g. is j. Il. Hawley, who served
in the same regiment with Gen. Seeley,
and who was appointed TO look after GER
tain branches of the service. He Is good
man, and receives pay only for the work
he does.